"Music has been a constant in my life and probably saved my life more than once. One of the most unique things about bipolar illness is that you can literally be psychotic and have your brain almost completely detached from reality one day and then days or weeks later be living in the confusion of the memories of unreal things mixed with reality."
Research shows the benefits of music therapy for various mental health conditions, including depression, trauma, and schizophrenia (to name a few). Music acts as a medium for processing emotions, trauma, and grief—but music can also be utilized as a regulating or calming agent for anxiety or for dysregulation.
You probably don’t need much convincing to agree with the quotation above. Whether you’re affected by mental illness, grief, trauma or anxiety or not you’ve probably felt the power of music to heal and calm or excite and motivate.
If you’ve read the “about” entry on the website you know that I am someone living a bipolar life. When I thought of starting an internet radio station, I knew that my illness should would have be a part of that if I was going to be honest.
Music has been a constant in my life and probably saved my life more than once. One of the most unique things about bipolar illness is that you can literally be psychotic and have your brain almost completely detached from reality one day and then days or weeks later be living in the confusion of the memories of unreal things mixed with reality.
It’s messed up, believe me. You go through cycles of being more or less having unreal thoughts mixed with real ones back and forth. Usually the unreal thoughts are more attractive, like you have magic powers or knowledge and when you finally end up beached on full up reality it’s painful, because you realize how fucked up your mind has been.
You are left with the trauma of everything you experienced plus the loss of your self, of who you thought you were. Your whole self is destroyed and rebuilt multiple times. It’s hard to actually hold on to a sense of who you really are.
I’ve questioned everything and lost and gained everything about myself multiple times. My sense of self is complicated, but one thing that has been constant has been music.
There is a whole branch of music therapy and I remember when I used to work in nursing homes that music therapists would sometimes come and play the guitar or other instruments for Alzheimer patients. Today I understand why.
I’m not trying to get totally corny here. Even if you don’t have a bit of mental illness or anxiety, music probably plays a big part in your life as well. It’s just the desire to share that with other people. Just like I share my experiences here about my life, through vibes world I’m able to share that healing with others. Rastas call marijuana the “healing of the nations” which is in the Bible. I think you could use that phrase for music as well.
Listening to music together can be a profound thing. Being on the same frequency can be powerful. Knowing that someone is listening to what I’m playing, that we have that thing in common is what made me take up djing. Being able to share sound, which is almost like a way to share emotions, is the idea behind vibes world radio.
You don’t have to be mentally ill to feel the power of music. Just letting it wash over you or get you into a better mood, or keep you company when you’re depressed are experiences open to those who listen. Music is life in all its variety.
And one thing I’ve learned is that whether listening or creating music can save your ass. When I had no one to turn to, Prince was there. A Tribe Called Quest Was There. AC/DC was there. Buju Banton was there. And so many others...
Let the music play. Music can solve many problems, and it can also help you forget them while you live in the magic of a moment.
Please tune in to Vibes World Radio. Let vibes rule. Please scroll down to the comments box and let us know about your experiences with music.
When you listen to the station you hear us, but we want to hear you as well.
Thank you for listening.